Long Live the Pope

This triumphalist partisan hymn about the leader of the Roman Catholic church was written by American priest, school-teacher and academic Hugh T. Henry (1862-1946).

It is set to the tune PAPAL HYMN (Ganss), by American composer and Roman Catholic priest Henry George Ganss (1855 - 1912).

The hymn was first published in 1908 by J Fischer & Bro, who were stated as the copyright owners in early publications. This combination of the date of first publication and the author's date of death means that the words and tune are now in the public domain in the vast majority of countries

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Examples

Instrumental - organ:

Lyrics

Long live the Pope! His praises sound
Again and yet again:
His rule is over space and time;
His throne the hearts of men:
All hail! the Shepherd King of Rome,
The theme of loving song:
Let all the earth his glory sing,
And heav'n the strain prolong.
Let all the earth his glory sing,
And heav'n the strain prolong.

Beleaguered by the foes of earth,
Beset by hosts of hell,
He guards the loyal flock of Christ,
A watchful sentinel:
And yet, amid the din and strife,
The clash of mace and sword,
He bears alone the shepherd staff,
This champion of the Lord.
He bears alone the shepherd staff,
This champion of the Lord.

His signet is the Fisherman's;
No sceptre does he bear;
In meek and lowly majesty
He rules from Peter's Chair:
And yet from every tribe and tongue,
From every clime and zone,
Three hundred million voices sing,
The glory of his throne.
Three hundred million voices sing,
The glory of his throne.

Then raise the chant, with heart and voice,
In church and school and home:
"Long live the Shepherd of the Flock!
Long live the Pope of Rome!"
Almighty Father, bless his work,
Protect him in his ways,
Receive his prayers, fulfill his hopes,
And grant him "length of days."
Receive his prayers, fulfill his hopes,
And grant him "length of days."